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| EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu |
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it cannot without the backing of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, seek the extradition of the immediate-past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Maduke, from the United Kingdom to face criminal prosecution on corruption charges in Nigeria.
Asked if the commission had notified the AGF of its intention to bring the suspect back to Nigeria, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Mr Tony Orilade, said the step to extradite the ex-minister to Nigeria “through” the AGF office “is being taken.”
Orilade stated that the commission would fulfill all the conditions attached to the planned extradition of the former minister.
The commission’s spokesperson said, “We are aware that we cannot do the extradition alone. We have always maintained that we have to do it through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and that step is being taken.
“Part of the pre-condition for requesting extradition is first filing charges. You cannot take steps without filing charges and charges have been filed in respect of this case.
“Definitely, all the necessary steps that need to be taken after filing the charges to ensure compliance with all the conditions of extradition will be taken.
“We are surely going to comply with all the steps that will bring about fulfilling all the conditions.”
Newsmen had reported that weeks after indicating its interest to extradite Alison-Maduke from the United Kingdom to face criminal prosecution on corruption charges in Nigeria, the commission had yet to seek the endorsement of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for the process.
EFCC’s acting chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, said recently that the commission was planning to extradite the ex-minister to Nigeria following the commission’s dissatisfaction with the handling of her investigation by the UK government.
Our correspondent learnt that the EFCC had done all the necessary court filings which need to accompany the request for Alison-Madueke’s extradition but has yet to notify the AGF office which has the exclusive power to send the request to the UK.
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Asked if the commission had notified the AGF of its intention to bring the suspect back to Nigeria, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Mr Tony Orilade, said the step to extradite the ex-minister to Nigeria “through” the AGF office “is being taken.”
Orilade stated that the commission would fulfill all the conditions attached to the planned extradition of the former minister.
The commission’s spokesperson said, “We are aware that we cannot do the extradition alone. We have always maintained that we have to do it through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and that step is being taken.
“Part of the pre-condition for requesting extradition is first filing charges. You cannot take steps without filing charges and charges have been filed in respect of this case.
“Definitely, all the necessary steps that need to be taken after filing the charges to ensure compliance with all the conditions of extradition will be taken.
“We are surely going to comply with all the steps that will bring about fulfilling all the conditions.”
Newsmen had reported that weeks after indicating its interest to extradite Alison-Maduke from the United Kingdom to face criminal prosecution on corruption charges in Nigeria, the commission had yet to seek the endorsement of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for the process.
EFCC’s acting chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, said recently that the commission was planning to extradite the ex-minister to Nigeria following the commission’s dissatisfaction with the handling of her investigation by the UK government.
Our correspondent learnt that the EFCC had done all the necessary court filings which need to accompany the request for Alison-Madueke’s extradition but has yet to notify the AGF office which has the exclusive power to send the request to the UK.
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